Showcase reflector



Sept. 19. 1933- R. B. BENJAMIN SHOW CASE REFLECTOR Filed April 11?.,v 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 nudo rrrrrrr nl: 1

Sept. 19, 1933. RB. BENJAMlN 1,927,254

sHow CASE REFLECTOR Filed April l2, 1950 ZSheetS-Sheet 2 ,f Jiba/zii Patented Sept. 19, 1933 PATENT OFFICE SHOWCASE REFLECTOR Reuben B. Benjamin, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Benjamin Electric Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April 12, 1930. Serial No. 443,672

5 Claims.

This invention relates to electric lighting lixtures and has special reference to an electric lighting xture for use in show cases, and the like.

More particularly this invention has reference to a lighting xture for use in show cases and the like comprising a receptacle member, a casing, a reilector and positioning clips, which xture is particularly suitable for use in curved sections of show cases.

An object of this invention is to provide a show case lighting xture comprising few parts which may be easily and quickly assembled. The casing is provided with an inwardly projecting portion at one end thereof over which is placed one end of the reflector. The receptacle member projects over the other end of the reector and securely holds the reiiector in the casing, and is, in turn, secured to the lcasing by means of a single screw. Thus, in order to assemble the xture itis merely necessary to hook one end of the reflector over the inwardly projecting portion and then tighten the one screw which secures the receptacle memberto the casing. v f,

A further object of this invention is to provide a lighting fixture of the type above referred to lwhich is compact and therefore particularly adapted for use in curved portions of a show case. The bushings on the inside of the casing for receiving the lead wires or conduits carrying the lead wires are set in the rounded end portions of the casing adjacent the top thereof so as not to extend outwardly beyond the bottom of the end portions of the casing.

, A still further object of the invention is to provide a lighting xture in which is attached a lamp socket having a flared receiving opening whereby a lamp` may be inserted thereinby a simple swinging movement Without the necessity of the usual screwing-in operation and which, when inserted, is held in Contact position by a resilient clip.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lighting fixture having positioning clips which securethe xture in a 'show case or the like and focus said iixture at a proper illuminating angle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lighting iixture having a feed-through circuit to which a lamp socket may be electrically connected without the necessity of breaking or cutting the lead wires.,

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood by ref- (Cl. 24U-6) erence to the following description, together with the accompanying drawings, in which latter:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a lighting xture embodying this invention with a lamp attached therein;

Fig. 2 is a face view of a lighting fixture embodying this invention;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the receptacle member showing the wiring terminal screws positioned in grooves;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the receptacle member showing the base of the lamp in contact with the receptacle contacts;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the side and center contacts of the receptacle showing the protrudingV threaded portion which engages the terminal wiring screws;

Fig. 'l is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1 showing the casing, the reflector, the end of the bushing and the lamp securing clip;

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional View of a modification of this invention showing a double socket reflector;

Fig. 9 is a view of the receptacle contacts employed in the double socket;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the fixture positioning clip attached to the front side of a show case or the like;

Fig. 11 is a modified view of an adjustable positioning `clip attached to the front side of a showcase or the like; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a section of a show case with a fixture embodying this invention connected in assembly with other show case lighting fixtures by means of conduits.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the construction shown comprises a lighting xture for use in show cases and the like made up vof a trough-like casing 1 having end portions which extend vertically downward adjacent the top of the casing and then are rounded so as to are outwardly at the bottom. In the end portions of the casing adjacent the top are circular holes 2 through which are extended the reduced portions 3 and 4 of the bushings 5 and 6. The reduced portion 4 of the bushing 6 is bent outwardly against the inside of the casing so as to hold the bushing in place. Likewise, the reduced portion 3 of the bushing 5 is .bent outwardly against the otherend of the casing except for the shelf portion 6' which extends horizontally inside the casing. Conduits 'l vt into the bushings 5 and 6 and are held in place therein by means of the screws 8. A rounded trough-like reflector member 9 open at both ends and adapted to lie adjacent the sides of the trough-like casing 1 is placed inside the casing with one end hooked over the shelf portion 6 of the bushing 5. The receptacle member 10 is then positioned in the casing at the end opposite the shelf 6 so that the inside end thereof extends over the end of the reector 9. The screw 11 is threaded into the screw receiving member 12 which is fastened to the top of the casing 1 by riveting or other desirable means, Thus, one screw suices to hold the reiiector and receptacle in position within the casing.

The receptacle 10 is formed with a lamp receiving recess 13, one side of which is flared at 14 as shown in Fig. 1, so that a lamp may be inserted therein by a simple swinging movement without the usual screwing-in operation. When the base of a lamp has been inserted in the lamp receiving recess 13, the lamp is maintained in contact position by means of a securing clip 15, fastened to the end of the casing over the reduced portion 3 of the bushing 5. This clip 1'5 comprises a downwardly extending strip 16, which may be of metal or any other desirable material having an enlarged end 'portion with a hole therein which end portion is 1cent up and inside the casing at 17 as shown'in Figures 1 and 7 and engages the bulb end of the lamp when the same is swung upwardly into contact positions The receptacle 10 has side and center contacts adapted to engage respectively the side and center contacts of the lamp to be inserted therein. The side contact 18 is formed of a strip of conducting material having one end doubled back inside the recess 13, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, sol as to engage the side contact of the lamp, and the other end extends back into the receptacle and is provided with a threaded portion 19 which extends in a plane at right angles to the plane of said strip. The center contact 20 also shown in Figs. 4 and 6 is formed of a strip of conducting material bent substantially in a right angle, one end of which lies adjacent the end of the lamp receiving recess 13 so as to engage the center contact of the lamp and the other end of which extends back into the receptacle and is likewise provided with a threaded portion 21 extending in a plane at right angles to the plane of the strip 20. If the double socket shown in Fig. 8 is used the contacts shown in Fig. 9 are employed. The side contact is formed of a strip of metal 22, the ends of which are doubled back inside the recess and has a threaded portion 23 intermediate the ends thereof extending in a plane at right angles to the plane of the strip. The center contact is formed of a U-shaped strip of conducting material 24, which is provided with a threaded portion 25 intermediate. the ends thereof extending in a plane at. right Yangles to the plane of said strip. Grooves 31 are provided in the top of the receptacle 20 for receiving the lead wires of the xture which wires are held in place in the grooves by the head of the wiring terminal screws 32. These screws thread into the threaded portions of the contacts 18 and 20 thereby forming an electrical connection between the lead wires and the receptacle contacts.

The whole fixture is secured in a show case or the like by means of positioning clips 26 which are preferably xedly secured to the casing, as shown in Fig. 10, although they may be adjustable, as shown in Fig. v11. These clips 26 comprise a iiat metal portion 27 which ts against the vertical part of the end portions of the casing 1. This portion 27 is provided with a flat edge 28 adapted to lie against the inner surface of the top or" the show case or the like so as to focus the Fixture at a proper illuminating angle. Integrally formed with the portion27 is a strip 29 lying in a plane at right angles to the strip 27. This strip 29 is adapted to lie against the front of the show case or the like and to be bent over the top thereof, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. By means of this clip the iixture is both securely held to the show case in which it is to be used and is at the same time properly focused. The modification of the positioning clip shown in Fig. 11 is similar to that shown in Fig. 10 except 'that it is cut substantially straight across at 30 so that it may be adjusted without striking the rounded end of the casing 1.

n assembling the fixture one end of the reflector 9 is hooked over the shelf portion 6 of the bushing 5 and the receptacle extending partly over the other end of the reector is then fastened to the other end of the casing by means ofthe screw 11. The lead wires which extend through the space betweenthe casing 1 and the reector 9 are bared above the receptacle. The bared portions are bent down so as to lie in the grooves 31 under the heads of the terminal wiring screws 32. The wiring screws 32 which extend downwardly through the top of the receptacle l0 engage the threaded portions 19 and 21 of the side and center contacts 18 and 20. The fixture is now ready to be placed within the show case in which it is to be used. The strips 29 of the clips 26 are placed against the inside of the front of a show case, after which they are bent over the top of the show case so that the at portion 28 lies adjacent the top of the show case. A lamp is inserted by placing the base thereof in the flared receiving entrance of the receptacle recess 13 and swinging the other end of the lamp upwardly so as to engage the'opening inthe lamp securing clip 15. Y

use.

While I have shown and described but two embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that various modications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and, therefore, the latter is to be limited only by the scope of the pended claims.

I claim:

prior art and the ap- 1. A lighting fixture for use in Vshow cases The iixture` is then ready for ilo base of a lamp to be inserted therein secured within said casing, and bushings for receiving conduits attached to said casing at the top of each end thereof and extending through openings in said casing so as not to extend outwardly beyond the bottom'part of said end portions.

2. A lighting xture for use in show cases and the like, comprising a casing, a bushing inone end of said casing for receiving a conduit, sadfbushing having an inwardly projecting portion, av reflector kfitting over said projecting portion, Vand a receptacle `secured in the oppositeend of said casing, said receptacle fitting under the other end of said reflector to support the same.

3. The combination with a trough-like casing, of a lamp receiving receptacle for supporting av lamp in said casing comprising an insulating base having a lamp receiving recess, said base having an opening in the upper part thereof for receiving a screw to be threaded into said casing, and an enlarged opening below said slot whereby the screw may beinserted from below said receptacle to secure the receptacle to the casing.

4. A show case lighting xture comprising a trough-like casing, a trough-like reflector member housed thereby, an insulating member secured in said casing having an unthreaded recess for receiving the base of a lamp and having side and bottom contacts adapted to engage respectively the side and center contacts of said lamp, said side contact being resiliently positioned in said recess at one side thereof, and said insulating member having an inserting entrance flared on the side remote from the reflector sufficiently to enable the lamp to swing outwardly when fully inserted without substantial axial movement whereby a lamp may be inserted therein by placing the lamp base in the inserting entrance of said insulating member and swinging the bulb end of said lamp inwardly intovsaid casing, a threaded anchorage member secured to sai-d contact, and a binding screw for said contact having its head at the rear of said insulating base and its shank extending forwardly therefrom whereby the wiring extending longitudinally of the casing may be caught under the head of the screw.

'5. A show case lighting iixture comprising a trough-like casing, a trough-like rreflector member housed thereby, an insulating member secured in said casing having an unthreaded recess for receiving the base of a lamp and having side and bottom contacts adapted to engage respectively the side and center contacts of said lamp, said rst side contact being resiliently positioned lin said recess at one side thereof, said insulating member having an inserting entrance ared on the side remote from the reflector suflicient- 1y to enable the lamp to swing outwardly when fully inserted without substantial axial movement whereby a lamp may be inserted therein by placing the lamp base in the inserting entrance of said insulating member and swinging the bulb end of said lamp inwardly into said casing, spring means for engaging the bulb and exerting axial pressure thereon to press the lamp center contact against the receptacle center contact, and a tubular bushing for the passage of the feed wires secured to the end of the casing, said spring l having a base portion secured to said bushing.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN. 

